Copa America Bolivia vs Argentina Highlights: Record-breaking Messi guides Argentina to 4-1 win over Bolivia

Copa America Bolivia vs Argentina Highlights: Follow Sportstar's live coverage/highlights of the Group A Copa America match between Bolivia and Argentina being played at the Arena Pantanal in Cuiaba.

Updated : Jun 29, 2021 08:36 IST

Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates scoring his second goal against Bolivia in the Copa America on Tuesday.
Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates scoring his second goal against Bolivia in the Copa America on Tuesday.
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Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates scoring his second goal against Bolivia in the Copa America on Tuesday.

Welcome to Sportstar's live coverage/highlights of the Group A Copa America match between Bolivia and Argentina being played at the Arena Pantanal in Cuiaba.

Argentina extends its unbeaten run at the Copa America as it storms to a commanding 4-1 win over Bolivia. Lionel Messi, who made his 148th appearance to become Argentina's most-capped player, starred with a brace while Papu Gomez and Lautaro Martinez also got on the scoresheet. Erwin Saavedra pegged one back for Bolivia but it was not enough as Argentina wrapped up its group stage campaign with a resounding win.

MATCH REPORT|

The result sees Argentina remain on top of Group A with 10 points from four games, while Uruguay beat Paraguay to finish second with seven points. Paraguay is third with six, while Chile secured five points to earn a spot in the quarterfnal. Bolivia ends its campaign on zero points.

 

FULL TIME! Bolivia 1 - 4 Argentina

90+2' Messi has a go at goal from the left and tries to sneak it into the near post but Lampe is up to th challenge and parries it away. Wayar is shown a yellow card for a late challenge on Paredes.

90' Acuna gets booked for a foul on Vaca right at the edge of the box. Three minutes to be added on.

89' This is the 10th time that Bolivia and Argentina have clashed in the Copa America on neutral ground. Argentina has never lost to Bolivia in neutral venue. Bolivia has only beaten Argentina twice in the competition and it had the home advantage both times.

86' We have the first booking of the game as Ramallo is shown a yellow card for clattering with Lisandro Martinez while vying for a header. Martinez has suffered a cut on his chin and is getting medical treatment.

85' Bolivia makes its final change as the goal-scorer Saavedra goes off for Moises Villarroel Angulo.

84' Alvarez shows great pace as he races down the right and feed a low cross towards Martinez in the box, which is cleared for a corner.

81' Late change for Bolivia: Fernandez is replaced by Diego Wayar.

77' Lampe makes a fine save to deny Messi! Argentina is awarded a free-kick at the edge of the box. Paredes lays it for Messi and he fires a low left-footed strike. Lampe reads  it well and fives to his right to block it and does well to ave the rebound as welll.

75' Last quarter of play left. Enough time for Messi to complete score a hat-trick on the day he made history by becoming Argentina's most-capped player?

71' Change in personnel for Argentina as Leandro Paredes and Nicolas Dominguez come on for Rodriguez and Palacios.

70' Lampe makes two stunning saves in quick succession to deny Martinez from close range. Lampe has had a decent game despite conceding four goals.

68' Uruguay continues to hold a slender 1-0 lead over Paraguay in the other Group A game.

65'Martinez gets on the scoresheet! Acuna's low cross into the box creates all sorts of trouble and the ball lands kindly for Martinez, who scores what will go down as one of the easiest goals of his career. The 23-year-old gets among the goals within two minutes of coming on to restore Argentina's three-goal cushion.

64' Scaloni makes two changes as well as Aguero is taken off for Lautaro Martinez, while Giovani Lo Celso comes on for Correa.

61' Triple change for Bolivia: Cespedes, Chura and Alvarez are replaced by Jose Sagredo, Henry Vaca and Rodrigo Ramallo respectively.

60' SAAVEDRA SCORES FOR BOLIVIA! Justiniano make a surging run down the right channel and drills a low cross. Saavedra times his run to perfection and scores with a fantastic first-time finish. This is Justiniano's second goal of Copa America 2021 and he is Bolivia's only goal-scorer of the tournament.

56' That will be Papu Gomez's last contribution of the game as he is replaced by Julian Alvarez.

56' Justiniano nearly puts the ball into his own net! Papu Gomez squares it for Aguero and Justiniano slides to block the cross and nearly scored an own goal.

55' Lampe is alert to the threat this time. Aguero is released on goal but Lampe races off his line to collect the ball.

51' Aguero threads it to Messi and Messi is through on goal but he's offisde. This Aguero-Messi partnership looks really effective today. Could this be a hint of what we can expect when the two link up at Barcelona in the La Liga this season? Provided Messi stays at Barca, that is. There is still no clarity on his contract situation at the club.

49' Lionel Scaloni is unbeaten in his last 16 games in all competitions as Argentina boss. His side has not lost since a 2-0 defeat in the 2019 Copa America semifinal.

47'  Vaca fires a shot from the left but it takes a deflection and is an easy save for Armani.

46' KICK OFF! And the second half gets underway. No changes at the break for either side.

HALF TIME! Bolivia 0 - 3 Argentina. A fantastic all-round display sees Argentina head into the interval with a comfortable 3-0 lead. Papu Gomez open the floodgates in the sixth minute when he struck a sublime volley off Messi's chipped pass and he returned the favour around the half-hour mark when he won a penalty. Messi, making his 148th appearance to become Argentina's most-capped player of all time, converted from the spot with finesse before scoring another brilliant goal in the 42nd minute. Aguero played Messi through on goal with a delicious lob and Messi looped it beyond the 'keeper to take his international goal tally to 75 goals.

 

45' We will have one minute of added time.

44' Inches away from Aguero! He latches on to a loose ball in the box ands strikes a venomous strike that whizzes just wide of the far post.

42'MESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSI! The Bolivian defence is caught napping as Aguero plays a peach of a lob for Messi with only the 'keeper to beat. Messi makes no mistake as he coolly scoops the ball above Lampe to score his second goal of the evening. Messi now has  three goals and two assists in Copa America 2021.

39' Chura  lines one up from way out and forces a fine save from Armani. That will count as Bolivia's first shot of the game.

37' Argentina has chosen the left flank as its preferred route to goal. The like of Papu Gomez and Aguero have combined really well on the left and have been ably supported by Messi and Correa.

34' Messi's fine strike sees Argentina double its lead and settle into a comfortable 2-0 lead. Meanwhile, Bolivia has just won its first corner of the game.

Lionel-Messi
Lionel Messi scored from the spot to give Argentina a 2-0 lead over Bolivia in Tuesday's Copa America Group A game.
 

32'GOAAAAAAAL! Messi scores from the penalty spot as he buries the ball into the right bottom corner. That's one way to mark your 148th appearance for the national team!

31' PENALTY TO ARGENTINA! Papu Gomez drops a shoulder in the box and Bejarano brings him down. Messi will take the resulting spot-kick.

28' STAT: Argentina has scored all its goals in Copa America 2021 in the first half of its games. It is also the team that has scored the most goals in the first 15 minutes of games - three.

25' Bolivia is slowly finding its way into the game and is getting into some sort of a rhythm. The side has packed men in midfield, hoping to exploit any rare crack in the Argentina defence.

23' Argentina's goalkeeper Armani, who is playing in place of Emiliano Martinez, has just touched the ball for the first time this half. He's had no saves to make and has enjoyed quite an uneventful game so far.

21' Edinson Cavani has just scored a penalty to give Uruguay the lead against Paraguay in the other Group A game being played in Rio de Janiero.

17' The early goal has put Argentina in the driver's seat and the side has seized control of this game. Messi and co. have enjoyed nearly 70 per cent of ball possession, while Bolivia has been left to chase the ball or clear it. No attacking forays made by Bolivia just yet.

14' Aguero bombs into the box and lays it for Messi, but the Argentine captain gets crowded out. Bolivia under all sorts of pressure now.

11' Argnetina's attacking moves have largely originated from the left lank so far. The quartet of Aguero, Gomez, Messi and Correa have combined really well so far.

8' Argentina gets off to a rollicking start. The La Albiceleste have looked lethal up front and have attacked with great precision.

Papu-Gomez
Argentina's Papu Gomez celebrates giving his side the lead against Bolivia in their Copa America game on Tuesday.
 

6' GOAAAAAAAAAL! PAPU GOMEZ SCORES THE OPENER FOR ARGENTINA! Messi receivs the ball at the edge of the box plays a delightful chipped pass for Papu Gomez, who busts the net with a thumping volley.  It's a fantastic team goal and it's Gomez's second goal in as many games.

4' Amongst the goalkeepers who have played at least one game at the current the Copa America, none have made more saves per game than Lampe of Bolivia (10).

3' Bolivia goalkeeper Lampe makes two stunning saves to deny Argentina early on! He does really well to keep out Aguero's attempt first and then recovers well to block Correa's shot seconds later.

1' KICK OFF! Argentina begins proceedings and will attack from left to right. The second Group A game between Uruguay and Paraguay has also begun at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.

5:27am: The teams are out in the middle. Argentina in is iconic blue and white stripes, while Bolivia don their green jerseys. 

5:20am: Today's result will not affect the standings in Group A much as Argentina leads the group with seven points, followed by Paraguay (6), Chile (5) and Uruguay (4). Bolivia is last with zero points and is already out of contention for a knockout berth.

5:15am: Record-chasing Lionel Messi doesn't want to rest at the Copa America despite Argentina already having secured its place in the quarterfinals. Argentina's captain was one of the few regular starters named on Sunday by coach Lionel Scaloni to play Bolivia in its final match in Group A.

The 34-year-old Messi is making his 148th appearance today and is now the most-capped member of the national team. Messi, who has played every minute of Argentina's matches at the tournament, is chasing his first Copa America trophy with Argentina.

5:10am: Lionel Messi's Argentina will look to continue its unbeaten run in the Copa America 2021 when it takes on Bolivia in its final Group A clash today. Here is how the two teams will line up:

Bolivia starting XI: Lampe; Saavedra, Haquin, Jusino, Fernandez; Justiniano, Chura, Vaca, Cespedes, Bejarno; Alvarez

Argentina starting XI: Armani; Acuna, Martinez, Pezella, Montiel; Palacios, Rodriguez, Gomez,  Correa, Messi; Aguero

 

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